Soundproofing system for use with partition walls

ABSTRACT

A soundproofing system for use with partition walls has at least one elongated upper rail member adapted to be connected to a lower surface of the ceiling; and a plurality of curtain members each adapted to releasably connect at an upper edge thereof to the rail member in side-by-side fashion to one another to thereby form an elongated soundproofing curtain within the space between the ceiling and drop ceiling.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to soundproofing devices butmore particularly to a reusable soundproofing system for use withpartition walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sound proofing a building can be a complicated task depending upon itsarchitecture. More specifically, in a modern high rise, offices areoften repartitioned by adding or removing walls. Generally, the officeceiling is a false ceiling or “drop ceiling” made out of acoustic tilesused for hiding ducts and electrical wiring, among other things.Typically, the walls will only reach to the height of the drop ceiling,thus leaving a gap above which is not partitioned and thus can transmitsounds, even though so called “acoustic tiles” are used. There istherefore a need for a practical and reusable way to soundproof the areaabove a drop ceiling considering partition walls are used more and moreoften in many office space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices nowpresent in the prior art, the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantageswhich are:

To provide for an easy to install, reusable and effective sound barrierfor use above a drop ceiling.

In order to do so, the invention consists in at least one elongatedupper rail member adapted to be connected to a lower surface of theceiling; and a plurality of curtain members each adapted to releasablyconnect at an upper edge thereof to the rail member in side-by-sidefashion to one another to thereby form an elongated soundproofingcurtain within the space between the ceiling and drop ceiling.

At least one elongated lower rail member is adapted to be connected toan upper surface of the drop ceiling, and wherein each of the pluralityof curtain members are adapted to releasably connect at a lower edgethereof to the lower rail member in side-by-side fashion to one another.

Each of the upper edge and lower edge of each of the plurality ofcurtain members includes a loop material, and each of the at least oneupper and lower rail members includes hook material, such that theplurality of curtain members can be easily securely and releasablyconnected to the rail members for easy installation and removal from thespace between the ceiling and the drop ceiling.

One side edge of each of the plurality of curtain members includes aloop material, and an opposite side edge of each of the plurality ofcurtain members includes hook material, such that each adjacent curtainmember can be easily securely and releasably connected to each adjacentcurtain member.

Each of the plurality of curtain members are formed having a holethrough a center portion thereof and a slit extending from the hole andthrough one the side edge thereof, to thereby be adapted to allow ductsand pipes running through the space between the ceiling and the dropceiling to pass therethrough.

Each of the plurality of curtain members are formed having at least oneelongated slit within a center section thereof, to thereby be adapted toallow wires running through the space between the ceiling and the dropceiling to pass therethrough.

Each of the upper and lower rail member is formed having a U-shapedcross section.

The invention is used in combination with a drop ceiling and otherconditions.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additionalfeatures of the invention that will be described hereinafter and whichwill form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a-c Isometric view of the curtains in context and front and sideviews of a curtain.

FIG. 2 Isometric view of pads in context with wire passing through.

FIG. 3 Isometric view of large pads in context.

FIG. 4 Isometric view of pads and curtains in context.

FIG. 5 a-b Isometric view of pads in context and of a pad with anopening.

FIG. 6 a-b Top and front views of curtains attached together.

FIG. 7 a-c Isometric, top, and side views of a combination pad andcurtain with a wire passing through a curtain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A soundproofing system (10) for use above a drop ceiling (12) consistsin an external envelope (14), and an interior core (not shown)consisting of a padded material known to neutralize the propagation ofsound waves.

There are basically two types of embodiment: pad members (18), andcurtain members (20). Pad members (18) come in various shapes and sizesbut are generally thicker and bigger than curtain members (20).

The curtain members (20) are hung vertically from a concrete ceiling(24) and just above a wall (25), by way of an upper rail member (22) anda lower rail member (22′).

The pad members (18) are laid flat on top of the drop ceiling (12).

Both the pad and curtain members (18, 20) have some models with roundopenings (26) having a side slit (27) on one side for passing ducts andpipes (30), while other curtain members (20) have slit openings (28) forpassing wiring (32). As for pad members (18), the wiring (32) can passin between them.

Each curtain (20) element is releasably attached to the next by way ofhook and loop means (34) located around their perimeter and which alsoattaches them to the rails (22). One side edge of the curtain member(18) has the loop and the other side the hook so as to attach in thatfashion. The rails are preferably “U” shaped in configuration tofacilitate a hook and loop connection.

As sown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the pad and curtain members (18, 20) can alsobe used in combination.

The main advantage of this system is that it can be totally dismantledand reusable, as office space changes. Also, it can be used under afloating floor (23) like those used in mainframe computer or computerrackspace locations, for example.

Also, the pad members (18) can be compressed until put in place so that,as they decompress, they fill-in any void that is difficult to fillaround pipes and wiring and other such impediments.

The insulating material used inside the envelope (14) uses material thathas known sound dampening characteristics such as fiberglass insulation,polystyrene beads, treated and inert organic material such as hay,recycled paper shreds, to name but a few of the possible products.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of thepresent invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. A soundproofing system for use between a ceiling and a drop ceiling,said soundproofing system comprising at least one elongated upper railmember adapted to be connected to a lower surface of said ceiling; and aplurality of curtain members each adapted to releasably connect at anupper edge thereof to said rail member in side-by-side fashion to oneanother to thereby form an elongated soundproofing curtain within thespace between said ceiling and drop ceiling.
 2. The soundproofing systemof claim 1, further comprising at least one elongated lower rail memberadapted to be connected to an upper surface of said drop ceiling, andwherein each said plurality of curtain members are adapted to releasablyconnect at a lower edge thereof to said lower rail member inside-by-side fashion to one another.
 3. The soundproofing system ofclaim 2, wherein each said upper edge and lower edge of each saidplurality of curtain members includes a loop material, and each said atleast one upper and lower rail members includes hook material, such thatsaid plurality of curtain members can be easily securely and releasablyconnected to said rail members for easy installation and removal fromsaid space between said ceiling and said drop ceiling.
 4. Thesoundproofing system of claim 3, wherein one side edge of each saidplurality of curtain members includes a loop material, and an oppositeside edge of each said plurality of curtain members includes hookmaterial, such that each adjacent curtain member can be easily securelyand releasably connected to each adjacent curtain member.
 5. Thesoundproofing system of claim 4, wherein each said plurality of curtainmembers are formed having a hole through a center portion thereof and aslit extending from said hole and through one said side edge thereof, tothereby be adapted to allow ducts and pipes running through said spacebetween said ceiling and said drop ceiling to pass therethrough.
 6. Thesoundproofing system of claim 4, wherein each said plurality of curtainmembers are formed having at least one elongated slit within a centersection thereof, to thereby be adapted to allow wires running throughsaid space between said ceiling and said drop ceiling to passtherethrough.
 7. The soundproofing system of claim 2, wherein each saidupper and lower rail member is formed having a U-shaped cross section.8. A soundproofing ceiling comprising the combination of a drop ceilingand a soundproofing system; said soundproofing ceiling comprising aplurality of drop ceiling panels releasably connected to a ceiling of aroom structure; and a plurality of upper rail members adapted to beconnected to a lower surface of said ceiling; and a plurality of curtainmembers each adapted to releasably connect at upper edges thereof torespective rail members in side-by-side fashion to one another tothereby form elongated soundproofing curtains within the space formedbetween said ceiling and said drop ceiling.
 9. The soundproofing ceilingof claim 8, further comprising a plurality of elongated lower railmembers adapted to be connected to an upper surface of said dropceiling, and wherein each said plurality of curtain members are adaptedto releasably connect at a lower edge thereof to respective lower railmembers in side-by-side fashion to one another.
 10. The soundproofingceiling of claim 9, wherein each said upper edge and lower edge of eachsaid plurality of curtain members includes a loop material, and eachsaid plurality of upper and lower rail members includes hook material,such that said plurality of curtain members can be easily securely andreleasably connected to said rail members for easy installation andremoval from said space between said ceiling and said drop ceiling. 11.The soundproofing ceiling of claim 10, wherein one side edge of eachsaid plurality of curtain members includes a loop material, and anopposite side edge of each said plurality of curtain members includeshook material, such that each adjacent curtain member can be easilysecurely and releasably connected to each adjacent curtain member. 12.The soundproofing ceiling of claim 11, wherein each said plurality ofcurtain members are formed having a hole through a center portionthereof and a slit extending from said hole and through one said sideedge thereof, to thereby be adapted to allow ducts and pipes runningthrough said space between said ceiling and said drop ceiling to passtherethrough.
 13. The soundproofing ceiling of claim 11, wherein eachsaid plurality of curtain members are formed having at least oneelongated slit within a center section thereof, to thereby be adapted toallow wires running through said space between said ceiling and saiddrop ceiling to pass therethrough.
 14. The soundproofing ceiling ofclaim 9, wherein each of said plurality of upper and lower rail membersis formed having a U-shaped cross section.